Are The Bucs Cutting Too Many Corners?

Posted by Mike Florio on June 25, 2009, 8:54 PM EDT

In response to our post regarding the facially implausible contention from Buccaneers G.M. Mark Dominik that the team has spent nearly $60 million against an $80 million 2009 cap bulge, a source with knowledge of the situation tells us that the franchise has been consistently tightening the belt since the end of the 2008 season.
“One Buc Place has become a ghost town,” the source said, who estimated that half of the non-football staff has been laid off.
The source also said that the Buccaneers also have laid off their security guards.
“Anybody can drive into the facility and walk inside,” the source said. “At OTAs there were fans that actually walked up and watched practice from a fence that was only 10-20 yards from the players. Public relations staff asked the fans to leave.”
Folks, this isn’t good. We don’t care whether the Buccaneers spend their remaining cap space, or whether Dominik is exaggerating the amounts they’ve already spent. But they need to secure the premises, especially when players and members of the general public are present.
Hopefully, they’ve kept enough money around to safeguard their employees and customers at training camp.
And, hopefully, the league office and the NFLPA will ensure that they do.

We know Michael Jackson had ABSOLUTELY NO ties to the NFL if even Florio couldn’t try and finagle a mention.

stingerD says:Jun 25, 2009 9:03 PM

The Glazers (Bucs owners) also own Manchester United and have been funneling NFL cash to cover the large amount of money they had to borrow to buy the soccer club. They will never be close to the cap for the foreseeable future due to the debt load in England. It will be a hard couple of years for the Buc fans.

Mean D says:Jun 25, 2009 9:04 PM

Glazers MUST sell this franchise. They SUCK as owners.

Hosstyle in Tampa says:Jun 25, 2009 9:05 PM

“At OTAs there were fans that actually walked up and watched practice from a fence that was only 10-20 yards from the players. Public relations staff asked the fans to leave.”
…and that was Belicheck with a camcorder…
…as if he would waste his time filming our team…lol

4-12 Bucs fans in 2009. 4-12. This crew has no clue. 1987 in review upcoming.

777 says:Jun 25, 2009 9:27 PM

Hosstyle in Tampa there is no reason to video tape the Bucs

thetruthhurts says:Jun 25, 2009 9:37 PM

“..facially implausible…” Hmmm.
Is facial implausibility some sort of arcane legal variant on the standard, garden-variety implausibility?
Are there other bodily implausibilities?
Scapular implausibility? Gluteal implausibility?
Anterior cruciate implausibility must not hold up well in court…

Mustard says:Jun 25, 2009 9:39 PM

So, the same day you report that the Buccaneers were willing to give Haynesworth 120 million dollars, you also report that they are unwilling to spend money.
Sure.

go long says:Jun 25, 2009 9:42 PM

I have lived in Tampa for years and I have NEVER seen advertisements for TICKETS AVAILABLE. Never seen it. Well, driving by Raymond James Stadium today there was a HUGE sign on the side of the stadium “Season Tickets Available” with a phone #. Billboards are everywhere, radio ads, etc..
I am telling you – these off-season front office change is a collasal mistake. This franchise is going to PLUMMET.
4 & 12???? Which ones make up the 4??!!! They’ll be lucky to win 3. I see 2-14. Maybe they had to fire Gruden because he would have gone freaking beserk to have all that cap room and not get any good players…..anyone ever thought about the money – It’s ALWAYS the money!
Sounds like they have it all under control now. Tampa is going to get what it deserves this year.
They fired GruAllen after going 9 & 7???!! Are you freaking kidding me?

The Q-man says:Jun 25, 2009 9:49 PM

I don’t know Bucco, I can’t see four wins. It might be Leeman Bennett time again, back to back 2-14’s.

DailyRich says:Jun 25, 2009 10:04 PM

They fired Gruden and Allen for going 9-7 two years in a row and showing absolutely no improvement or hint of a plan beyond “Let’s plug the holes for one more year.”
And the availability of season tickets probably has more to do with the economy than anything the team is doing on the field.

haynesworthlikesdoughnuts says:Jun 25, 2009 10:07 PM

stingerD says:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
The Glazers (Bucs owners) also own Manchester United and have been funneling NFL cash to cover the large amount of money they had to borrow to buy the soccer club. They will never be close to the cap for the foreseeable future due to the debt load in England. It will be a hard couple of years for the Buc fans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maybe they should follow the lead of the redskins, or the yankees, or the….well you get the idea.

I would agree that our prospects are not good.
But they said that about Miami and Atlanta last year as well. You just never know. I’ll be in my seats.

Sportstalkryan says:Jun 25, 2009 10:28 PM

You’re calling the team irresponsible for having fans “10 – 20 feet away”?!? I thought one of the benefits of attending practices was having a memorable experience. What do you call the Packers’ tradition of having players bike from the field with kids? Reckless endangerment?

J Buc says:Jun 25, 2009 10:32 PM

They fired Gruden because Gruden sucks get over it.
I don’t understand how can you say that of a team which is paying big money for a coach who is not longer with the team, apparently offered 120 millions to a single player and made it’s TE the best paid one in the league.

replica says:Jun 25, 2009 10:37 PM

Bucs have solid core players. Oline is formidable as are running backs. If qb play can hold up we might be competitive and surprise a lot of people. But not the fans in those seats every week. Economy sucks in Florida right now. It will still sell out every week.

NoHomeTeam says:Jun 26, 2009 1:31 AM

Mustard says: “So, the same day you report that the Buccaneers were willing to give Haynesworth 120 million dollars, you also report that they are unwilling to spend money. Sure.”
Maybe, just maybe, Haynesworth was l . . . l . . . ly . . . exaggerating?

ArdieLange says:Jun 26, 2009 1:49 AM

The economic downturn has hit Kiri and the Bucs hard.

Deluxe says:Jun 26, 2009 7:43 AM

The Bucs are just ahead of the curve.
Most of your non-NFC East teams will look like this by 2011. The owners tactic to get a new CBA will be to reduce average salaries dramatically (remember no floor either when the CBA goes away). Best of the best will make a windfall playing for Dallas and D.C., and the rest of the league will play for reduced salaries.

buchead says:Jun 26, 2009 7:49 AM

I assume the “SOURCE ” Is Big dog breath . If you believe evrything he says, too bad.

mrmagoo says:Jun 26, 2009 9:16 AM

In related news, position coaches will be maximizing efficiencies by handling concessions in the sections nearest the benches.

I suppose we’ll have something to be happy about with next year’s prime draft picks? Lots of good linemen will be available if we’re picking in the top 5 once again. Shame we didn’t wait on the QB position.

djlaptop says:Jun 26, 2009 1:42 PM

“cutting too many corners”? I thought this was an article about releasing defensive backs.

Akron Rules says:Jul 2, 2009 8:31 AM

I wonder if the practice facility was paid for by public funds. Any fan could tell the PR people where to go if so.